They gathered at Saddle River County Park near Railroad Avenue in Rochelle Park and looked at the pile of debris gathering in the river at the Railroad Avenue Bridge.

The politicians are especially concerned now that the area is entering hurricane season, knowing that the removal of obstacles in the river should help prevent flooding.

"The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) didn’t do any of the de-snagging that they promised to do. What’s collected are these shoals that just collect more and more debris. There’s twice as much land now and a new island," said Eustace as he walked along the riverbank in the park.

Eustace mentioned that the last time he visited the area, there was only one island, and presently there are two.

"Downriver, we have a whole new ecosystem," said Eustace.

Pointing out a branch in the river, he said, "That branch will collect dirt. Eventually, the dirt will grow plants, and you won’t even know there is debris underneath the plants."

The assemblyman’s office has been in communication with PVSC for some months about the de-snagging of the Saddle River.

"What they’re saying now is that we have to wait until after trout season," said Eustace, pointing out that the river, in the park area, is stocked with trout during the fishing season.

Eustace did not understand himself why trout in the river should interfere with the de-snagging.

"I fish," explained the assemblyman. "You know what the trout do? They go around you."

Another issue that seems to be slowing down the process is PVSC’s attempt to coordinate with the Bergen County Mosquito Control Division.

An email dated July 11 from PVSC to Eustace promised "PVSC will be starting the blockage clearing on or around Aug. 1." This work was specifically for what PVSC termed "the most pressing area of concern," the trout stock area.

The same email stated, "The remaining areas will be addressed at the end of mosquito season, which we understand is in full swing with all the rain this year. These areas do not pose any immediate threat of flooding."

Hillman replied to the email, "Does PVSC typically not do river cleaning during mosquito season? I can understand why, but isn’t mosquito control working to kill the mosquitoes? Can you tell me when mosquito season ends? Is PVSC waiting for mosquito season to end so that employees are available to help? If that’s the case, I’m sure we can find local borough employees that will be able to assist."

He added, "I understand that, in PVSC’s professional opinion, there is not an immediate threat of flooding due to all the ‘remaining areas,’ but the people living along the river have very high anxiety over them."

More recently, in an email dated Aug. 7, Brian Davenport, manager of the River Restoration Program for PVSC, wrote, "We started the de-snagging of the Saddle River in the Ridgewood area at the one site we deemed to pose the most serious threat. This is the site that was to be addressed on or about Aug. 1."

While looking over the bridge at Railroad Avenue, Schrieks said, "I don’t want to throw anybody under the bus, but I just want something done. We’re in the height of hurricane season."

Schrieks said that residents remember Floyd and other past hurricanes that hit the area whenever September rolls around.

"While the river is not high, while the river is slow-moving, we can get this stuff out of here," said the mayor. "It (clogging debris) is here. It’s up the block. It’s up the river by the bridge underneath the Parkway and it’s down by us by Marcellus (Place bridge.) And, to a point, it’s also by the Essex Street bridge. There are issues of columns holding up garbage and holding up debris that just will continue to escalate."

While the politicians were gathered at the bridge, Barbara Meramo, a resident of Saddle River Road in Saddle Brook, came by walking her dog.

"Are you finally going to clean this up?" she said.

Meramo said that she’s had up to 9 feet of water in her home in past floods.

"I’m ready to get a bucket loader myself. I am tired of fixing my house. It’s up for sale. I’m out. I’m done," she said.

Another resident, who stopped to talk to the politicians, said, "I was just taking a walk around the park trying to think of which real estate agent I want to go to."

He was frustrated for similar reasons.

The politicians spoke to both residents about what they’d like to do and the difficulties that were holding up progress.

Eustace shared that bridges should be redesigned without center stanchions that collect debris.

Tanelli stated that it was better to be proactive than reactive to flooding issues, although he commended Bergen County’s first responders and emergency management workers.

"The water level, just in general, has risen, but when you have neglect like this, where it hasn’t been maintained for years, you’re asking for trouble. Where you can fix, you need to fix," he added.

They gathered at Saddle River County Park near Railroad Avenue in Rochelle Park and looked at the pile of debris gathering in the river at the Railroad Avenue Bridge.

The politicians are especially concerned now that the area is entering hurricane season, knowing that the removal of obstacles in the river should help prevent flooding.

"The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission (PVSC) didn’t do any of the de-snagging that they promised to do. What’s collected are these shoals that just collect more and more debris. There’s twice as much land now and a new island," said Eustace as he walked along the riverbank in the park.

Eustace mentioned that the last time he visited the area, there was only one island, and presently there are two.

"Downriver, we have a whole new ecosystem," said Eustace.

Pointing out a branch in the river, he said, "That branch will collect dirt. Eventually, the dirt will grow plants, and you won’t even know there is debris underneath the plants."

The assemblyman’s office has been in communication with PVSC for some months about the de-snagging of the Saddle River.

"What they’re saying now is that we have to wait until after trout season," said Eustace, pointing out that the river, in the park area, is stocked with trout during the fishing season.

Eustace did not understand himself why trout in the river should interfere with the de-snagging.

"I fish," explained the assemblyman. "You know what the trout do? They go around you."

Another issue that seems to be slowing down the process is PVSC’s attempt to coordinate with the Bergen County Mosquito Control Division.

An email dated July 11 from PVSC to Eustace promised "PVSC will be starting the blockage clearing on or around Aug. 1." This work was specifically for what PVSC termed "the most pressing area of concern," the trout stock area.

The same email stated, "The remaining areas will be addressed at the end of mosquito season, which we understand is in full swing with all the rain this year. These areas do not pose any immediate threat of flooding."

Hillman replied to the email, "Does PVSC typically not do river cleaning during mosquito season? I can understand why, but isn’t mosquito control working to kill the mosquitoes? Can you tell me when mosquito season ends? Is PVSC waiting for mosquito season to end so that employees are available to help? If that’s the case, I’m sure we can find local borough employees that will be able to assist."

He added, "I understand that, in PVSC’s professional opinion, there is not an immediate threat of flooding due to all the ‘remaining areas,’ but the people living along the river have very high anxiety over them."

More recently, in an email dated Aug. 7, Brian Davenport, manager of the River Restoration Program for PVSC, wrote, "We started the de-snagging of the Saddle River in the Ridgewood area at the one site we deemed to pose the most serious threat. This is the site that was to be addressed on or about Aug. 1."

While looking over the bridge at Railroad Avenue, Schrieks said, "I don’t want to throw anybody under the bus, but I just want something done. We’re in the height of hurricane season."

Schrieks said that residents remember Floyd and other past hurricanes that hit the area whenever September rolls around.

"While the river is not high, while the river is slow-moving, we can get this stuff out of here," said the mayor. "It (clogging debris) is here. It’s up the block. It’s up the river by the bridge underneath the Parkway and it’s down by us by Marcellus (Place bridge.) And, to a point, it’s also by the Essex Street bridge. There are issues of columns holding up garbage and holding up debris that just will continue to escalate."